George Washington University Athletics
Thursday, November 8
Harrisonburg, Va.
7 p.m.
George Washington University
at
James Madison
Women's Basketball Opens Season at JMU Thursday
11/7/2018 12:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Colonials and Dukes tip-off 2018-19 at 7 p.m.
WASHINGTON - GW women's basketball is set to begin its quest for a fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last five years as it opens its season on Thursday night at James Madison. Tip-off from the Convocation Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
ABOUT GW: The Colonials are coming off their seventh A-10 Tournament Championship and 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in program history. GW was projected to finish tied for third in the preseason poll along with Fordham. Senior Mei-Lyn Bautista was named to the preseason all-conference second team and all-defensive squad. She is one of five returns from last year's team that is joined by seven eligible newcomers that features four first-years, two transfers and a senior walk-on.
YEAR THREE: GW head coach Jennifer Rizzotti enters her third year in Buff & Blue having already led the team to an A-10 regular season title, an A-10 tournament championship, a WNIT berth and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Rizzotti has won 39 games in her first two years in Foggy Bottom, the most by a GW head coach in his/her first two seasons in program history. The previous record was 37 held by Joe McKeown (1989-90, 1990-91) and matched by Jonathan Tsipis (2012-13, 2013-14).
RIGOROUS SCHEDULE OUT OF THE GATE: JMU is the first of three straight preseason favorites that GW will face to begin the campaign. The Dukes (Colonial), Princeton (Ivy) and Maryland (Big Ten) were all the top pick in their respective leagues. Mercer (SoCon) represents the fourth team on the non-conference slate projected to win its league. GW joins DePaul and South Dakota State as the only teams in the nation to face three straight preseason favorites to open their respective seasons.
SENIOR LEADER AT THE POINT: Mei-Lyn Bautista emerged as one of the most efficient point guards in the nation last year, finishing 14th in assist-to-turnover ratio. Only five of the 13 players who finished above the Queens, N.Y. native return in 2018-19. Bautista is one of just three active players in the nation to appear in at least 60 games the last two years while recording over 200 assists and 100 or fewer turnovers:
A LOOK AT THE DUKES: JMU is coming off consecutive WNIT appearances, advancing to the third round on each occasion. The Dukes, under the direction of third-year head coach Sean O'Rogan, were 23-11 a year ago and finished second in the CAA at 16-2. JMU is projected to regain its claim of the Colonial this year as the league's preseason favorite. Three players were selected to the preseason All-CAA team - Kamiah Smalls and Lexie Barrier on the first team and Kelly Koshuta on the second team. JMU has received national recognition as well, ranking No. 12 in the preseason College Insider Mid-Major poll.
ABOUT GW: The Colonials are coming off their seventh A-10 Tournament Championship and 18th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in program history. GW was projected to finish tied for third in the preseason poll along with Fordham. Senior Mei-Lyn Bautista was named to the preseason all-conference second team and all-defensive squad. She is one of five returns from last year's team that is joined by seven eligible newcomers that features four first-years, two transfers and a senior walk-on.
YEAR THREE: GW head coach Jennifer Rizzotti enters her third year in Buff & Blue having already led the team to an A-10 regular season title, an A-10 tournament championship, a WNIT berth and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Rizzotti has won 39 games in her first two years in Foggy Bottom, the most by a GW head coach in his/her first two seasons in program history. The previous record was 37 held by Joe McKeown (1989-90, 1990-91) and matched by Jonathan Tsipis (2012-13, 2013-14).
RIGOROUS SCHEDULE OUT OF THE GATE: JMU is the first of three straight preseason favorites that GW will face to begin the campaign. The Dukes (Colonial), Princeton (Ivy) and Maryland (Big Ten) were all the top pick in their respective leagues. Mercer (SoCon) represents the fourth team on the non-conference slate projected to win its league. GW joins DePaul and South Dakota State as the only teams in the nation to face three straight preseason favorites to open their respective seasons.
SENIOR LEADER AT THE POINT: Mei-Lyn Bautista emerged as one of the most efficient point guards in the nation last year, finishing 14th in assist-to-turnover ratio. Only five of the 13 players who finished above the Queens, N.Y. native return in 2018-19. Bautista is one of just three active players in the nation to appear in at least 60 games the last two years while recording over 200 assists and 100 or fewer turnovers:
| Games | Assists | Turnovers | Assist/Turnover Ratio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Campbell, DePaul | 69 | 303 | 88 | 3.44 |
| Mei-Lyn Bautista, GW | 63 | 240 | 100 | 2.40 |
| Deanna Kuzmanic, UAB | 64 | 208 | 100 | 2.08 |
A LOOK AT THE DUKES: JMU is coming off consecutive WNIT appearances, advancing to the third round on each occasion. The Dukes, under the direction of third-year head coach Sean O'Rogan, were 23-11 a year ago and finished second in the CAA at 16-2. JMU is projected to regain its claim of the Colonial this year as the league's preseason favorite. Three players were selected to the preseason All-CAA team - Kamiah Smalls and Lexie Barrier on the first team and Kelly Koshuta on the second team. JMU has received national recognition as well, ranking No. 12 in the preseason College Insider Mid-Major poll.
Players Mentioned
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